Water vehicle



Feb. 24, 1931. P. GALENs WATER VEHICLE Filed Jan. 21,1930

2 Sheets-Sheet l Feb. 24, 1931. P. GALENs 1,794,071

WATER VEHICLE Filed Jan. 21, 1930 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 JTJ.

n venor 24M @Aun/ A torney view on the line 3-3 of Figure l.

Patented Feb. 24, 1931 PAUL GALENS, OFiBVROOKLYN, NEW YORK WATER VEHICLE Application led January 21, 1930. Serial o. 422,367.

his invention relates to improvements in water vehicles and has particular reference to an aquatic appliance by which a bather may propel himself while in the water.

rEhe .primary object of the invention resides in a swimming device on which a person Amay lie in a prone position and by the manipulation of either hand, may actuate Va propelling mechanism by which the device will be driven over the surface of the water.

Another object of the invention is to pro vide a swimming device which is non-sinkable so as to be safe for use by persons who cannot swim and which may be used for teaching such persons the art of swimming by giving them confidence while in the water.

A further 'obj ect is the provision of a swimming device which is light in weight and which may be quickly taken apart for convement packing in a carrying case to enable the owner to carry the same to a beach or other water resort. Y

lith these and other objects in view the invention resides in certain novel construen tion, combination and arrangement of parts, the essential features of which are hereinafter fully described, are particularly pointed out in the appended claims, and are illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which: l

Figure l is a side elevational'view of my improved swimming device man assembled position.

Figure 2 is a top plan view of the same. Figure 3 is a vertical transverse sectional v Figure is a side elevational view showing the parts in a separated condition.

Referring to the drawings Aby reference characters, the numeral l0 designates my improved swimming' device in its entirely vwhich includes aA buoyant frame body 1l which is rectangular inplan when in a set up position, and which includes sections 12-12 and 13-13 which are respectively connec'ted by hinges 14--1-4, the free ends of the front sections .l2-l2 being providedV with` vinwardly extending portions l-llwhile the rear endsof the :rear sections 13-13 are connected-by-an endfpiece 16 hinged to the respective sections 13-13 as at V17-17. n The frame bony when in a set up position is locked up together by hooks 18 which engage eyes 19. rlhe inner edges of the portions 15-'15 areV provided with semi-circular re- 5a cesses 20 which coact to provide a bearing for a vertically disposed shaft 2l, the upper end of which Ycariiesa pulley wheel 22 and which shaft is locked in its bearing byaremovable Y pinr23 which passes through the'lower end y of the shaft as shown in VF igure 1 of the drawings. By removalof'the pin 23',v` the shaft and pulley 22maybe removed fora purpose to be presently explained.l Secured tothe 'ure 3 of the' drawing. rllhe cross'bars 26 are securely held in position by hooks 28y pivoted to the sides of the frame body and which engage eyes 29 depending from the cross bar. lt will be seen that the passenger carrying support 25 maybe separated from the framev body by unfastening the hook 28 and lifting the bars 26 from their engagement with the side walls of the frame body. In view of the fact that thestrip'27 is iieXible, the passenger support may berolled into a compact bundie as illustrated in Figure 4; of the drawings.Y LoopsSO areprovided on' opposite sides of the'strip 27 for receiving split or 'openable rings 31 carried by pontoons 32 and which pontoons dependalongoppositesides of the passenger support for preventing accidental capsizing of the devicewhile inthe water. By opening' the rings 31 the'pontoons 32 may be disconnected from the flexible lstrip 27 as illustrated in Figure l of the drawings.

vSecured to one ofthe forward rings'lisa strap or belt 33,the opposite end 'of the belt being provided withgasnaphook 34 for detachable :engagementv with the Yotherfroiit Ysa the rear end thereof is a cross brace pro-VV vided with a bearing hanger 36 in alinernent with a similar hanger 37 carried by the end wall 16 and 11V carried by the Vend wall `16 and which hangers removably support a propeller shaft 38, the same extending beyond the end wall 16 and which removably carries a propeller 39. Fixed to the propeller shaft 88 is a pinion gear 40 kwhich is in constant mesh with a beveled gear 41 formed integral with a pulley 42, whichpulley is mounted on a shaft 48 removably journaled in a bearing provided on the end wall 16'. Encirclingl the pulley 42 and front pulley 22 is an endless belt 43 by which rotation may be imparted fromV the front pulley 22 to the rear pulley 42 for the purpose of turning the propeller shaft 38 and propeller 39. f By mounting the drivingassembly as shown and described, the same may be taken apart, as illustrated in Figure 4 of the drawings. y

, Extending rearward from the passenger supporting platform 25 is a propeller guard 43 which includes 'side barsA 44 to which a flexible covering 45 `is attached. The forward ends of the bars '44 are insertable in sockets provided in the rear cross bar 26 so astro render the guard 43 removable therefrom. This guard 'serves to prevent possible contact of the operators legs or feet with the rotating propeller 39 when ina lying position upon the support 25.

When the device is set up for use as shown in Figures 1 to 3,.inclusive, the 'same may be placed in the water and an Operator by lying prone upon the support 25 Vmay with either .hand impart a turning movement to the pulley 22 by graspingA the handle 24 and imparting rotation thereto. This rotation is im- *partedy to the propeller `driving mechanism through the endless belt 43 a-s previously mentioned, and which will of course turn the propeller Elwhichl moves the device forward over a body Vof water. It will'be understood that'forward and backward movement of the device is dependent upon the direction of rotation of the pulley 22.

Although no steering mechanism has been` shown, it is possible for an operator' to steer the device by placing his legs into the water as will be readily understood. y

v When not in use the p arts may be separated as illustrated in Figure 4 of the drawing, and compactly placed in a case for carrying and transporting purpose. This feature permits of carrying the device to beaches andother water' resorts Where the Vsame ymay 'be used. The parts are easyjtoas'semble and which assembly maybe vperformed by Van,V 'unskilled mechanic.

prisingan elongated buoyant body having passenger carrying platform thereon, a pulley ournaled forward of said body, a handle on-said pulley, a propeller shaft journaledV at the rear end of said body, a gear on said Vpropeller shaft, a pulley journaled on said body at right angles to the axis of the propeller shaft, a pinion gear integral with said last mentioned pulley and in meshing engagement with said piniongear, an endless belt passing around both of said pulleys, and a driving propeller carried by said propeller shaft. i Y

2. il mechanical swimming device comprising an elongated buoyant body having a passenger carrying platform thereon, pontoonsattaclied to opposite sides of said platform, a strap bridging said platform by which a person may be safely held thereon whilein a lying position, a pulley journaled forward of said body, a handle on said pulley, a propeller shaft journaled at the rear end of said body, a gear on said propellershaft, a pulley journale'd on said body at right angles te the axis of the propeller shaft, a pinion gear integral with said last mentioned pulley and in meshing engagement'with said pinion gear, endless belt passing around both of said pulleysyand-a driving propeller carried by said propeller shaft. r

3. A. swimming. device comprising a buoyant elongated body frame, spaced cross bars bridging the sides of saidbody frame, a flexible strip secured v,to said cross bars and overlying said frame, pontoons carried by the sides of said flexible strip, a propeller. shaft lying` said frame, pontoons; carried by the sides of Vsaid flexible strip,a propeller shaft 'journaled in the rear offsaid body frame, and

extending therefrom, a removable propeller guard coextensivevfwith said strip for overlying said propeller, a propeller mounted on-Vv said propeller shaft, and manually operable means operatively connected to said propeller f shaft for imparting 'rotation thereto.

portable swimming deviceV comprisinga buoyant frame Ibody consisting of a :plurality of hingedly connected-sections, hook and veye means' for Vsecuring saidsections in assembled position,apassenger carrying support removably 'mounted on-said frame body including a flexible strip Vhaving cross -lico zila Iliao bars which fit into sets of notches provided in the sides of said frame body, means for fastening' said cross bars to said frame body, pontoons removably connected to opposite sides of said passenger carrying support, a propeller shaft journaled at the rear of said frame body, a propeller mounted thereon, and manually operable means operatively connected to said propeller` shaftfor imparting rotation thereto.

6. A mechanical swimming device comprising a buoyant body, a hand operated pulley journalled forward of said body, a propeller shaft journalled rearward of'said body, a propeller carried by said propeller shaft, a pulley journalled on said body at right angles to the axis of said propeller shaft, an endless belt passing around part of said pulleys, and power transmitting mechanism connecting said last mentioned pulley with Said propeller shaft.

In testimony whereof I afix my signature.

. PAUL GALENS. 

